Injurious to Man. 41 



where it hides in the sand, biting travellers whilst they are lying 

 on the ground. 



Ornithodoros turicata, Duges. 



Omithodoros turicata attacks pigs, cattle, horses, and man. 

 The bite of this tick causes troublesome itching and an inflamed 

 papule, which usually soon subsides, however, if the patient refrains 

 from scratching the affected spot. Moreover, this species is 

 suspected of being the carrier of relapsing fever in Colombia. 

 Besides the hosts recorded above, it has been found in the holes 

 of gophers and in the burrows of a tortoise (Xerobates polyphemus). 



This species occurs in the southern parts of the United States 

 (California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona), Mexico, Colombia, and 

 Venezuela. 



Omithodoros talaje, Guer.-Men. 



This species inhabits old houses, concealing itself in crevices 

 and coming out at night to suck the blood of the inmates. Its 

 bite is very painful, causing much swelling and itching. It is quite 

 probable that this species transmits relapsing fever. A pair of 

 movable flaps or cheeks are present near the palps in this tick, a 

 feature distinguishing it from other species of the genus. This 

 tick is very abundant on the brown rat (Battus norvegicus) at 

 Panama, and also occurs more sparingly in that locality on the 

 black rat (Battus rattits) and Alexandrine rat (B. alexandrinus). 

 About three thousand specimens of 0. talaje were found by 

 Jennings on rats at Panama, and all of them, with the exception 

 of two nymphs, were larvae. It has also been found on the llama, 

 and Aragao states that he has seen examples from the paca 

 (Coelogenys paca) and from Dicotyles sp. 



Omithodoros talaje occurs in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, 

 Venezuela, Brazil, and Chili. 



A variety of this species (0. talaje, var. capensis, Neum.) is found 

 in the nests of birds in the islands off the coast of Cape Colony, 

 also on St! Paul's Kocks, and on Cargados Carajos (Siren Islands) 

 in the Indian Ocean. 



Omithodoros megnini, Duges. 



The Spinose Ear-Tick. 



This tick lives in the ears of cattle, horses, and, more rarely, in 

 those of other animals. Numerous short, bristly hairs are present 



